[intro music playing]
[John Cena] Then.
[Ric Flair] Woooo!
-[glass shattering] -[The Rock] If you smell…
-[bell tolling] -[Cena] Now.
[Roman] Acknowledge me!
-[Triple H] The king of kings… -[Cena] You can't see me…
[Cena] Forever.
Together.
Really?
This is it?
I expected more pizzazz.
This is The Miz we're talking about.
We need more production value.
[clink]
Now that's more like it.
But wait, this is Christmas Day, isn't it?
Let's make this more must-see.
-[clink] -[festive music playing]
Now this is a set fit for a night of such grandeur and spectacle.
Because, ladies and gentlemen, on this very special episode
of Monday Night Raw,
we relive all the monumental moments that defined a year
unlike any other in WWE history.
And who better to start off this evening than the A-Lister himself?
The most must-see WWE Superstar of all time,
the man who the Oscars called to host
but turned them down because he was too busy
hosting this year's WrestleMania.
-[record scratches] -What?
It's my intro, I could say whatever I want.
[music resumes]
None other than yours truly, The Miz.
And as a Hollywood A-Lister and a movie star myself,
I've seen every blockbuster there is to see.
But this past year in WWE, it eclipsed them all.
We're talking about every genre you can think of.
From heart-wrenching drama to edge-of-your-seat action,
like when Cody Rhodes stood toe to toe with Brock Lesnar
in our own Clash of the Titans.
[Cole] Cody Rhodes has arrived!
We saw a gripping revenge tale as Rhea Ripley met Charlotte Flair
on the grandest stage of them all.
[Cole] This is one of the most incredible matches
you'll ever witness at WrestleMania.
[Miz] Logan Paul and Ricochet took to the skies
in an earth-shattering superhero showdown.
[Corey] That was one of the damndest things I've ever seen in my life!
[Miz] A timeless classic was reborn
as legendary Trish Stratus battled icon, Becky Lynch.
[Cole] That match is in the running for match of the year!
[Miz] We charged onto the battlefield penning a war story like no other.
We even witnessed our own extraordinary crossover event
that stole the show.
[Cole] George Kittle of the Niners.
Kittle just took out Miz!
McAfee headed up to the top!
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!
Who's running the show back there?
That moment is not Miz-approved.
I'm talking about Bad Bunny starring in his breakthrough role.
[Corey] Where would you rather be?
Nowhere else but right here right now.
[Miz] Our heroes shined, our villains reigned,
and our emotions surged.
[Corey] What the hell just happened?
This is absolutely epic!
And always makes sure to stick around until the end,
because even we can hit you with a post-credit scene.
-["Cult Of Personality" playing] -[Cole] Oh, my God!
[crowd cheering]
Pipe bomb.
This isn't any ordinary evening.
This isn't some forgettable sequel or a rerun that you can skip.
Tonight we relive 52 weeks, 365 epic days of jaw-dropping feats
and heart-pounding action that only WWE can deliver.
Happy Thanksgiving!
[Miz] So go ahead, grab your popcorn,
dim the lights,
watch that fancy TV Santa brought you today,
and get ready to witness WWE at its absolute best,
the cream of the crop of this year,
because this is Raw, The Absolute Best of 2023,
and it is awesome!
Well, merry Christmas, everybody,
and welcome to Raw, The Absolute Best of 2023.
We are so excited to be spending Christmas Day with you.
I'm Jackie Redmond alongside my good friend,
the one, the only, Peter Rosenberg.
Peter, what a way to kick off the show.
I felt like The Miz was Santa Claus,
just delivering present after present
with everything that he's promised in the show.
I know and the stockings are indeed full.
And guess what? We've gifts for everyone, okay?
In addition to everything The Miz promised,
we have a sleigh ride of gifts. I'm talking about-- How about this?
-Exclusive interviews. All right? -Ooh.
-How about the "American Nightmare"… -We love it.
…Cody Rhodes?
How about the Women's World Champ, "Mami" Rhea Ripley?
Tell me more.
How about Jey Uso?
Yeet?
-Exactly right. -Yeah.
Becky Lynch. The list goes on and on.
Oh, I'm so excited for all of it. And in a short while,
we're going to have our first guest of the evening.
And you could say he's, kind of, a big deal.
He's only the World Heavyweight Champion, Seth "Freakin" Rollins.
But before we talk to the Champ,
let's turn back the clock to May of this year.
WWE Night of Champions, a battle between two of the best in the biz,
the aforementioned Seth "Freakin" Rollins and AJ Styles, the Phenomenal One,
as they vied to become the Inaugural World Heavyweight Champion.
[Cole] And here we go. Match-up underway. Rollins…
[crowd vocalizing]
[Cole] Playing conductor.
[Corey] Becoming an increasingly hostile environment for AJ Styles.
[Cole] But if there's one individual who will not allow that environment
to change his game, it is the veteran, AJ Styles.
[Corey] You're absolutely correct. These are two athletes who never crumble
under the magnitude of the moment.
Both men understand what is at stake here.
[Cole] I know you feel the same way, Corey,
but what an incredible treat tonight to call this match
between two of the very best to ever play this game
with a brand new title on the line!
And Styles taking advantage of a drop kick,
knocks Rollins over the top rope, and AJ Styles…
[Corey] Styles offering no quarter. Looking to bring the fight
to the visionary, and Seth got caught off guard.
I'm honestly a little surprised that Rollins made a mistake
that simple with a veteran as dangerous as Styles.
[Cole] AJ Styles says, "Rollins is a difficult opponent,
and that's the way that I like it."
However, Seth's been out doing movies the last couple of weeks,
so perhaps he's not 100% focused on what's at hand here tonight.
[Corey] Movies are not the issue with Seth Rollins's focus,
but I said on my podcast, After The Bell, this past week,
Rollins has spent a lot of time talking about Roman Reigns,
and if Seth is focusing on what Roman is doing,
that means Seth's not focusing on AJ Styles as much as he needs to be.
[Cole] Nice leap frog by AJ, Rollins rolls through as well,
and a stalemate here in the early going.
Styles misses wildly and AJ cannot-- Oh, Seth Rollins with a slingblade!
And now Styles will look to regroup.
Rollins out to the apron and Seth Rollins with a running knee!
AJ Styles taken down.
[Corey] Styles is down. The knee just grazing the Phenomenal One.
But what an amazing atmosphere inside the Jeddah Superdome.
The WWE Universe came here tonight knowing they are in store
for something special.
And Rollins could be thinking about ending it here.
[Cole] AJ Styles-- Oh!
And Rollins caught him in the back of the neck.
First cover of the match-up.
Hook to the leg by Seth Rollins and a kickout.
We are in the Jeddah Superdome here tonight
in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for Night of Champions,
the first of three main events.
Rollins, Styles for the brand new World Heavyweight Title.
Rollins has won two WWE Championships,
two Universal Championships in his career,
and an NXT Title as well.
AJ Styles, a two time WWE Champion.
[Corey] Styles now, bulldozing Rollins back into the corner!
[Cole] Now burying his shoulder in the midsection of Rollins.
You know, he had a…
Seth Rollins had a lot of controversial things to say
in your sit-down interview with him on Monday Night Raw.
[Corey] Styles with a knee.
Rollins, certainly no stranger to controversy,
but the difference is Rollins knows what business he needs to handle
and when he needs to handle it. I promise-- Oh!
Rollins is singularly focused in this one.
[Cole] He talked about the reason he wants to win the title,
and that is to affect change throughout the entire industry.
Talked a lot about Roman Reigns, the Undisputed Champion
who reaches 1,000 days as champion later on tonight.
[Corey] And Rollins also spoke to Roman Reigns,
taking opportunity away from other members of the roster.
Imagine what opportunities will be lost
if Roman becomes a Tag Team Champion tonight.
[Cole] Styles, into the corner, up over the top.
Rollins, who has not been beaten since the beginning of this year
running into chops now at the hands of Styles.
Oh, Rollins caught him, and AJ, face first into the turnbuckle!
Styles is dazed, Rollins looking to capitalize.
-Oh-ho-ho! -[Cole] Driving AJ
into the second turnbuckle on the other side of the ring.
Rollins bought himself breathing room
as we take another look at this as Seth launches AJ
face-first into the middle turnbuckle.
Tremendous power from Rollins!
[Cole] And a buckle bomb to Syles!
[Corey] Seth making the long climb to the top turnbuckle.
Splash!
[Cole] Cover by Seth
to win the championship and a kick-out by Styles!
This is for the brand-new World Heavyweight Championship.
Rollins versus Styles.
AJ Styles, Corey, with an opportunity.
Rollins's in obvious pain after tweaking the knee
and then the Calf Crusher by Styles.
[Corey] Look for AJ to continue attacking the weakened limb of Seth Rollins.
It's a veteran strategy. It's tried and true,
and it's what will bring AJ Styles to the World Heavyweight Championship.
[Cole] Rollins back to his feet as well.
[crowd cheers]
[crowd boos]
[crowd cheers]
[Cole] Every blow that Rollins throws,
you can see him suffering as he tries to put any kind of weight on the bad knee.
[Corey] And it also mitigates the impact of each strike
without the ability to plant your feet before you deliver it.
-AJ Styles no such problem! -[Cole] And here comes AJ.
AJ starting to fire up.
Goes right back to the injured leg.
[both groaning]
[Cole] Rollins, kick to the midsection.
[Corey] A lot of style kicks from Rollins…
right across the bridge of AJ's nose.
[Cole] AJ ducked underneath, caught him with a chop.
[grunting]
[Cole] Styles with headbutts.
Oh, and Seth caught him with an enziguri.
AJ, still on his feet, went for the Pelé Kick.
[Corey] Seth felt it coming.
Oh! Kick right to the face! Styles's down!
And now Rollins realizes he has an opportunity.
Went for the Stomp to the hand!
-[Corey] Interesting strategy by Rollins-- -[Cole] To set up the Pedigree!
Styles counters.
[Corey] AJ…
trying to hoist up Seth.
[Cole] For the third time in the match, looking for a Styles Clash
and Rollins able to counter.
Pelé Kick, this time connected.
And now Styles hooking Rollins for the Pedigree!
Styles uses the Pedigree!
The cover to win the Championship!
And Rollins kicks at two!
[Corey] A look of disbelief on the face of Rollins, and…
we are all wearing the same expression
after seeing the "Phenomenal" AJ Styles deliver a Pedigree
and nearly knock off Rollins.
[Cole] And we talked a lot, Corey, about whether this was AJ's last opportunity,
whether he had enough left to get the job done.
Those are the words of the thoughts of Styles,
and now you're starting to see it show on the face of Styles.
[Corey] But now cannot be the time to allow doubt to creep in
if you're AJ Styles.
Rely on where you've been, rely on what you've done.
Remember who you are, the "Phenomenal" AJ Styles.
[Cole] Styles has tried to go three times to the Styles Clash.
He's used the Calf Crusher. He even used Rollins's Pedigree
against him and still has not been able to put Seth Rollins away.
And now,
looking to load up.
Rollins trying to use the ropes to bring himself back to a vertical base.
Styles stares his opponent in the eyes.
Oh, and Styles caught him with a forearm to the face. And now AJ's ready.
For the Phenomenal Forearm.
Oh, superkick by Rollins!
[Corey] Styles may be out, but Rollins's unable to capitalize just yet.
[Rollins] Come on!
[Cole] Rollins in the corner, ready to strike.
Does he have anything left? Oh, and the knee buckled!
Went for the Stomp, the bad knee buckled.
And that may have saved AJ Styles
the World Heavyweight Championship.
And again roll through, Styles looking for the Calf Crusher.
This time Rollins able to counter into a Pedigree!
[Corey] But Seth may have re-injured his own knee delivering the Pedigree.
Can Rollins fight through the pain? Is the adrenaline enough?
[Cole] Stomp!
Rollins for the cover!
Hooks the leg, wraps the arm! Rollins does it!
[bell rings]
["Visionary" playing]
[announcer] Here is your winner and the new
World Heavyweight Champion,
Seth "Freakin" Rollins!
[Corey] Seth Rollins!
That's the guy to carry this thing forward!
[Cole] As Triple H, the man who announced the creation
of the new World Heavyweight Championship,
and has had a long, long history with Seth Rollins
since the days that Rollins became the Inaugural NXT Champion,
is here tonight to accept the brand-new world title
from the Hall of Famer!
Seth Rollins is your new World Heavyweight Champion.
A monumental victory for Seth "Freakin" Rollins,
winning the World Heavyweight Championship,
a championship that still sits around his waist seven months later.
It certainly does. And with that, let's welcome in the visionary himself,
the revolutionary, the World Heavyweight Champion,
Seth "Freakin" Rollins.
-Seth, first of all, we… -[laughs]
[laughter]
I should have known that was coming. We want to wish you, Becky, and Roux,
a merry Christmas.
I imagine that Roux s at the age now where she really, like, understands
what's going on and gets hyped.
[laughs] She loves it.
She loves Christmas. She loves Santa, loves Frosty, loves Rudolph.
We got the elf on the shelf, the whole deal.
She digs it, man.
So it's fantastic to be able to be here,
watch her open her gifts and get into the magic of Christmas, you know?
Uh, I referenced that World Heavyweight Championship
being around your waist. It's currently over your shoulder, of course.
Um, what did it mean for you to be the first ever World Heavyweight Champion?
It has been my honor.
Uh, an honor of my career
to be the first World Heavyweight Champion,
to bring a title to Raw and to give opportunities to guys
who were kind of stuck under that glass ceiling for a long time.
Because that's what it's about. That's how you grow.
You know, if you don't have anything to aim for in this industry,
if you can't have a goal to set, you're going to stagnate.
And that's not what I'm here for. I'm not in the business
of just being here for Seth Rollins,
I'm in the business of making this entire place
as good as it possibly can be.
And that's why I wanted this title.
That's why I'm proud to be a champion,
and that's why I'm proud to give those opportunities to guys like Jey Uso,
Sami Zayn, hell, even Bron Breakker,
Damian Priest, you name it, I've done it, I've fought them all,
uh, and I can't wait to keep defending the title.
Well, I don't know if you're aware of this, Seth,
but one of the bigger stories in WWE this past year was the return of CM Punk.
-Um, it has become clear… -[Rollins chuckles]
…that you're not a huge fan
and have not been a huge fan of CM Punk for some time.
-The words were "I hate you." -You don't say.
Yeah, yeah, oh, that was the word, "hate."
I got to ask you, I've been wanting to ask since it happened
at that moment during Survivor Series, the end of the night,
when you hear CM Punk's music, what ran through your head?
[Rollins] Ah, man, it was such a mixture of emotions,
rage and disappointment.
But also, like, you, kind of, knew it was coming.
And then when you hear it, it was almost like,
uh, a bit of disbelief, like, you'd seen a ghost, you know?
But a ghost that you really want to punch in the mouth…
[laughter]
…I guess, is the best way to put it.
[Jackie] I guess my follow-up question is, you know, what would it take
for CM Punk to earn your respect,
or is that impossible at this point?
-Is there no getting there? -Oof.
Oof! Uh…
[stammers] I mean, that's-- I don't know, man.
That's-- We got a long road to get to that point.
I mean, it's been ten years of him doing the opposite of earning my respect.
I had a lot of respect for this guy.
Um, I put him on a pedestal in a lot of ways.
And for me, he was the epitome of "Don't ever meet your heroes."
That old saying, because they'll always disappoint you.
And that's what it's been for me for the last ten years.
It's just a series of disappointments over and over and over.
Knowing the guy for two decades, it's been a wild 20 years for him
to get to a point where he's earned my respect again,
I don't want to say it's Mount Everest,
because I don't think that would be doing it justice to be honest with you.
It's going to be a long road if we ever get there.
Wow so what did you and Becky send him for Christmas?
You're saying nothing then?
[laughing] Uh, maybe a couple lumps of coal, I don't-- at best.
He didn't get the family Christmas card,
uh, from Seth and Becky, I don't think, uh,
but, uh, I'm sure you're already tired of talking about CM Punk.
So let me ask you about Drew McIntyre. What's his problem?
'Cause you got a big match coming up with him.
You know, here's the thing about Drew.
A lot of what he's saying isn't wrong.
And I understand where he's coming from.
I understand where he's coming from. I understand his approach.
I understand what he wants out of the deal.
The problem is, he's got to beat me for the World Heavyweight Championship.
And right now, I dare say I am operating on a level
that is simply untouchable.
So I don't care what version of Drew McIntyre we've got at Day 1,
it really doesn't matter to me.
What matters is that he's got to get in the ring,
and then he's got to find a way to beat me if he wants to get
what he wants, the World Heavyweight Championship,
and I just don't think he can do it.
I'm feeling like I can't be beat. I'm feeling untouchable.
So, Drew, I hope you bring it, bring the best out of me, you always do,
I'll bring the best out of you. And still, even though you're a jerk,
no merry Christmas to you,
hope may the best man win.
May the best man win.
All right, well, listen, enjoy your time before that match.
Again, that match taking place on Day 1,
uh, Monday Night Raw edition next week.
Seth, thank you for spending some of your holiday with us.
Merry Christmas to you and the entire fam and good luck next week.
Ha ha! Ho ho ho ho. Merry Christmas to you guys.
Thank you guys so much for having me. Happy New Year to you two.
[Jackie] And still to come tonight,
two of today's biggest pop culture icons,
Logan Paul and Bad Bunny each show no matter where they go,
they always make their mark.
[Peter] But up next we'll find out why Mami is always on top
as we relive her monumental clash
with The Queen, Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania.
Yeah, man. Man, what a year.
Look back at it. Look what we've done.
-Hell of a year. -The academy's grown,
we've added a female member.
We're thriving right now, and it almost makes me sad
we have to say goodbye to 2023.
Coach, I think you just have a case of the Christmas blues.
-Oh, yeah. -Okay? And listen,
you may be the master of wristlocks,
-takedowns and suplexes… -Thank you.
…but I am the master of curing the Christmas blues.
And do you guys know the cure?
Oh, the cure.
Shopping!
-Really? Shopping? -Shopping?
Yes, shopping. Tozawa.
-Oh, yeah. -Bring on the shirt.
-Yes, my dawg! -What you got? Oh, wow.
We got some Street Profs.
All week long, you can shop deals on the WWE shop
and kiss your Christmas blues goodbye.
-I gotta say… -Ricochet.
-…I'm feeling better already. -Me too.
Thank you!
Oh, yeah.
-Oh. -Oh, no.
He's getting extra nasty with it now.
[indistinct conversation]
I can just smell it from here!
Dial it down a little bit.
Well, Alpha Academy certainly feeling in the Christmas spirit tonight.
And why wouldn't they be? I mean, they're always having a good time.
-I just want to hang out with them. -They're the best.
They are, they are, and hilarious.
But, uh, anyways, Christmas, always a time to celebrate, right?
And the WWE Universe certainly had cause for celebration this year
when it was revealed that none other than Jade Cargill had signed with WWE.
Oh, WWE Universe, it was an early Christmas
when we got Jade Cargill, a once-in-a-lifetime Superstar, okay?
Athleticism, beauty, charisma, attitude.
-To quote the great Rihanna… -[gasps] Love Riri.
-…"She shines bright like a diamond." -Well done.
-"We found love in a hopeless place." -Wow.
And we found, wait for it, Jade Cargill.
"Umbrella." Step too far, I can't do it.
The point is this, we have Jade Cargill and I cannot wait
see her in the ring mixing it up with the best,
like Becky Lynch or Iyo Sky.
Or how about the two women we're about to see
in "The Queen" Charlotte Flair or Rhea Ripley?
Talk about star power, on one side, you've got "The Queen,"
a 14-time Women's Champion,
arguably the greatest female performer of all time,
and on the other side, you've got Mami,
and nobody messes with Mami.
Yeah, I learned that the hard way. A story for another time,
but a lesson Rhea would try to teach Charlotte as they battled
for championship gold on the biggest stage of them all,
WrestleMania.
I want to hear that story later.
[Corey] These two have faced off in the past.
This is not the same Rhea Ripley that Charlotte Flair remembers,
so Charlotte knows she had to strategize differently.
With that said, there's some amount of confidence that comes
with earning a victory over any opponent.
At WrestleMania, that's gonna benefit Charlotte in this one.
[Cole] I mentioned it earlier, the fact that Rhea Ripley understands
the importance of this moment, that she--
this is a star-making moment for her.
The fact that it's WrestleMania, it's Hollywood, it's Los Angeles,
it's Charlotte Flair.
[Corey] Charlotte, paint brushing the back of Rhea's neck.
[Cole] But the thing I've noticed about Rhea in recent months, Corey,
is the fact that she has never seemed
-as confident… -[Corey] Oh!
-[Cole]… as she has now. -[Corey] I agree.
There's the power we were talking about.
Ripley taking the Champion down, and I think the power advantage
is what's helping the confidence of the challenger.
[Cole] Charlotte went for the hip toss.
[Corey] Rhea has grown incredibly confident recently,
not to mention her alignment with The Judgement Day.
[Cole] Shoulder tackle by Charlotte.
[Corey] You can't be around people as talented as Bálor and Priest,
and even dating back to Edge,
as The Judgment Day and not pick up a few tricks along the way.
That has all helped Rhea grow into a different Superstar.
She's truly evolved.
[Cole] Charlotte a 14-time Champion.
She's won the Royal Rumble.
She's won a Tag Team Title.
[Corey] And I asked Rhea about that fact,
and what Rhea said to me is, that shows that The Queen can be beaten.
[indistinct conversation]
You think you're The Queen, huh?
-You think you're The Queen. -I am.
[Cole] Oh, what a chop.
Rhea though, gonna power Charlotte into the corner.
[Corey] Rhea just bulldozing the champion.
[Cole] It's not often, as you mentioned at the top of this match, Corey,
that that happens in a Charlotte Flair match.
[Corey] Charlotte answers with a hellacious right hand,
and another to the challenger.
[screams]
[Corey] Tremendous athleticism possessed by--
[Cole] Oh, and a boot right to the face drops Rhea!
You see Charlotte nodding with confidence.
Massive crowd here tonight.
-Over 75,000 in SoFi in Los Angeles. -[Corey] Wow!
[Cole] Crossbody!
[Corey] Fantastic crossbody by the Champion,
but Rhea answers with an elbow on the ear.
[Cole] Yeah, this is going to be a very physical match-up.
[Corey] I talked about the evolution of Rhea Ripley, but Charlotte Flair,
to her credit, is also a champion who's never stagnated,
always adding new wrinkles and techniques to her game,
spending a great deal of time in Mexico and around the world
honing her skills and learning new tricks.
[Cole] Charlotte off the top turnbuckle and Rhea's got an opportunity now.
[Corey] Even Flair didn't have an answer to the power of Ripley there.
[Cole] We have no idea how Charlotte Flair still functions in this match-up.
Big kick. The boot by Charlotte! Cover to retain!
-Rhea gets the shoulder up. -[Corey] Oh! Wow!
[Cole] Another near fall.
[Corey] You can see the brush burn on Charlotte's nose
from the German suplex
as we look back again at the boot that nearly ended this in favor of Flair.
[grunting]
[Cole] Now Charlotte with the boot, drops Rhea to the floor.
[Corey] But you can never count out The Queen.
We are, as you like to say, Cole, in the deep waters of this match-up,
and it's still too close to call.
[Cole] Yeah, but in the deep waters of this match-up
is where Charlotte Flair rises to the top.
And that's what she's going to do now,
she's going to go up top.
If there's a move that's defined Charlotte throughout her career,
you're looking at it.
From the top rope, moonsault! Down goes Ripley!
[Corey] Flair got all of it!
The Queen needs to get Rhea back in the ring…
and finish the job.
[Cole] Charlotte takes down Rhea, and again Rhea counters!
Went for the spear!
Almost took out referee, Jessica Carr.
-Oh and a head butt. -[Corey] Oh!
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Ripley!
Riptide!
-Cover! -[crowd counting]
-[Cole] Oh, Charlotte kicked out! -[Corey] Oh, no!
-[crowd cheers] -[Cole] Charlotte kicked out!
[Corey] Ripley's beside herself.
[Cole] 75,000 are beside themselves.
Watch the look on Rhea's face
when Charlotte kicked out!
[Corey] Complete disbelief.
Rhea has used that maneuver to put away countless opponents.
Ripley now looking to cinch in the Prism Lock submission!
[Cole] A version of the Cloverleaf locked in here on Charlotte Flair!
[Corey] Charlotte utilizing her long arms. She's still got her hands on the ground.
This is going to minimize the pain a little bit!
[Cole] Charlotte's gotta try to make it to a rope for a break.
If she taps, Rhea's the champion.
Charlotte trying to drag herself to the bottom rope to force a break.
Is this Ripley's moment? Is Rhea Ripley going to tap out
the 14-time Champion?
[Corey] Charlotte scratch and clawing to the corner.
And the Champion's made it to the ropes
[Cole] And Rhea's got five to break!
Now Rhea driven into the official.
-[Corey] Just an incidental contact. -[Cole] Spear!
Cover from out of nowhere!
Rhea kicks again!
You got to be kidding me!
Look at the face of Charlotte!
The look of, "What do I need to do?"
"What the hell do I need to do?"
[Corey] Charlotte Flair, not a Superstar who ever shows doubt.
This is one of the most incredible championship matches you'll ever witness
at WrestleMania.
Or any other day of the year for that matter.
This is absolutely epic!
These two women leaving it all in the ring
for the right to be the SmackDown Women's Champion.
[Cole] Rhea bounced off the ring post, Charlotte out of the second rope,
trying to drag Rhea up.
Charlotte Flair, what's she gonna try to do up there?
[Corey] Oh, my. This will not end well.
[Cole] Dangerous situation for champion and challenger.
[crowd exclaims]
No one willing-- Oh! And Charlotte,
-face first off the post. She may be out. -[Corey] I think she is.
Charlotte Flair's body just went limp.
[Cole] Charlotte may be out cold!
[Corey] The Queen basically melted on the top turnbuckle.
[Cole] Rhea screaming in the face of the Champion,
"It's my time!"
And it might be!
Riptide!
Cover!
-[crowd counting] -[bell rings]
[Cole] Rhea Ripley is the SmackDown Women's Champion!
-["Demon In Your Dreams" playing] -[announcer] Here is your winner
and new
SmackDown Women's Champion,
Rhea Ripley!
[Cole] Corey, I've had the honor to sit out here for 26 years,
that is one of the damnedest, the most physical,
the most incredible championship matches I've ever witnessed!
[Rhea Ripley] 2023, the year where Rhea Ripley
and The Judgment Day took over Monday Night Raw.
And anyone who dared stepped in my path…
found themselves eradicated.
And now, as the calendar flips to 2024
and we head into Day 1,
another fool thinks that they can step up to me.
-[Cole] Be very careful, Ivy Nile -[Rhea Ripley] Ivy Nile,
you're gonna discover what every other woman
on this roster already knows.
This is my division and you are nothing in my world.
[Peter] Still to come tonight, ten Superstars, two cages, one ring,
it's WarGames,
featuring the triumphant return of The Viper himself,
Randy Orton.
[Jackie] But up next, what do bunnies and social media disruptors
have in common?
Well, in WWE they both know how to fly.
WWE Royal Rumble is sponsored by Cricket.
With fast and powerful nationwide 5G service,
you can stress less, smile more.
Right now, let's venture on back to SummerSlam,
where the high-flying Ricochet collided with social media megastar, Logan Paul.
[Cole] Ricochet has been begging for this opportunity,
against a man who has really taken this company by storm in Logan Paul.
[crowd boos]
[Corey] Disrespect out of the gate, and Ricochet answers.
The more offense Logan Paul generates, the higher his confidence grows.
Thus making Logan Paul more dangerous each and every passing moment.
[Cole] Shoulder first goes Paul!
Ricochet up top!
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] That goof just gave Logan Paul some brass knuckles!
-[bell rings] -[announcer] Here is your winner,
-Logan Paul! -[crowd booing]
[Corey] That had to feel good for Logan Paul,
hearing Samantha Irvin say his name.
[crowd booing]
[Peter] If I had one Christmas wish,
-it would be to wake up as Logan Paul. -[Jackie laughs]
Yeah. Every time Logan Paul steps into the WWE ring,
he finds another way to impress.
Jackie, he's literally been in eight matches, okay?
Let me repeat that. Eight matches,
and somehow, he performs
like an absolute veteran who's been doing it his whole life.
Yeah, it really feels like, maybe, Logan Paul was born for this
in a lot of ways.
And this Friday on SmackDown, The Absolute Best of 2023,
we'll see Logan's most recent return to the ring,
where he faced Rey Mysterio
for that United States Championship at Crown Jewel.
He's got some gold now.
I'm gonna say, in case you didn't hear me before.
-Eight matches and he is the new-- -Worth repeating.
Yeah, yeah. Eight matches and he's the new US Champion.
Yeah. Well, listen, Logan Paul wasn't the only celebrity
to shine in the squared circle this year.
The man whose album had the most streams of 2023, according to Spotify Wrapped,
over 4.5 billion.
This is worth repeating too.
4.5 billion.
Bad Bunny put on quite the performance at Backlash this past year
in his home country of Puerto Rico, no less.
This was a night that blew my mind.
Talk about a homecoming in front of 18,000
of his and his opponent's fellow countrymen.
Bad Bunny wasn't just facing the Judgment Day's Damian Priest
in what had become a highly personal match, okay?
Bad Bunny came fully prepared
to go to battle in a San Juan Street Fight.
[Cole] These two men both grew up in a small town of Vega Baja,
here in Puerto Rico.
Damian Priest said, "This night is special because I was raised here."
Bad Bunny said, "We are superheroes here."
[Corey] It's easy to become overconfident when you've got an arena full of people
chanting your name. I think that's what we're seeing
out of Bad Bunny in the opening moment.
[Cole] And Priest just toying
-with his one-time friend… -[Corey] Oh!
[Cole] …and Bad Bunny said, "Uh-uh."
And Priest, misses wildly and Bunny with the power of his own!
A Michinoku Driver! A cover for the win and a kickout!
Are you kidding me?
[Corey] Bunny caught Priest off guard. No doubt about that.
A thunderous Michinoku Driver.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Let the games begin!
[Corey] Kendo sticks in stereo.
Beautiful custom kendo stick gifted to Bunny earlier tonight
by WWE legend Savio Vega.
[Cole] Damian Priest, though, picking Bad Bunny out of the air.
[Corey] And one well-placed shot to the body
stops Bunny's momentum in its tracks.
[Cole] You know, Damian Priest is a massive New York Yankees fan.
And I think he's going to… Well…
I thought he was gonna use it as a…
[Corey] That was more Bo Jackson than Aaron Judge but we'll take it.
[Cole] Bad Bunny now with the right, Damian Priest with the right of his own.
And now Priest, gonna show power to Bad Bunny.
[Corey] It's no secret the power advantage in this scenario is going to be
on the side of Damian Priest.
The experience advantage goes to Priest.
Bunny is out here relying strictly on heart,
which he has got an overabundance of.
[crowd rallying]
[Cole] It is thunderous here.
[Corey] Well, a sold-out crowd willing you forward
isn't going to hurt either if you're Bad Bunny.
[speaking indistinctly]
[crowd exclaims]
[Cole] I'm quite sure-- Oh!
Wrenching the left arm of Bad Bunny, and Priest now just showing off.
[Corey] Priest is savoring this. Damian Priest realizes how many eyes
are on this match-up right now,
all around the world as a premium live event.
-All of the Hollywood and the music-- -[Cole] Oh!
Legal. Thumb to the eye. Here comes Bad Bunny.
[Corey] The eyes of the entertainment world are on this match-up right now.
Priest may end up a Hollywood movie star after this.
Maybe Priest will get a recording deal.
[Cole] Well, not to mention Bad Bunny has 140 million social media followers.
[crowd counting]
[Cole] Priest said, "Not gonna happen."
Bunny rolled through, shoulders down. Stacks him up. Kick at two.
Damian Priest, who…
-[Corey laughs] -[Cole] …who trained Bad Bunny to…
get inside the squared circle. Mentioned they teamed together
a couple of years ago at WrestleMania.
You saw what Bunny was capable of there.
[Corey] Priest said it wasn't personal until Bunny made it personal.
[Cole] Oh!
Not quite sure…
How he came to that, uh…
[Corey] Damian Priest enjoyed being a teammate of Bad Bunny,
helping train Bad Bunny for WrestleMania.
-Chokeslam! South of Heaven! -[Cole] South of Heaven!
Oh, no, no, no, no. Damian Priest said, "I don't want to end it that way."
-"I want to continue to punish Bad Bunny." -[crowd booing]
[Corey] This is… This is getting dangerous.
I have a feeling Bad Bunny may rue the day he accepted this match.
[Cole] What is Priest planning to do here?
[Corey] He's planning to send Bunny on an early farewell tour.
But Bad Bunny fighting back high on top of that equipment.
Oh, no. Oh, no.
-[Cole] This is not going to be good. -[Corey] Oh, God, no!
[Cole] Oh, my God!
[crowd rallying]
[Corey] Damian Priest with the Broken Arrow off of the roll case
through God only knows what,
being concealed under the drapes.
Catastrophic scenario for Bad Bunny
[Cole] Hauling the carcass of Bunny back to the ring.
And unceremoniously dumping him into the ringside area.
Bad Bunny, I don't think he has any clue where he is, Corey.
-[Corey] That's a pretty fair assessment. -[Cole] Oh!
The most streamed artist in the world…
is now the most beat up.
[Corey] That record will not hold true
if people tune in to see the final time Bad Bunny was ever in public
after being destroyed courtesy of Damian Priest of The Judgment Day.
[Cole] Bad Bunny picked a fight with a dangerous, dangerous man.
-[Corey] Oh! -[Cole] Oh, no!
Missed with a kick!
Ankle into the post!
[Corey] Priest might have broken his foot. Maybe his ankle?
Priest calling the official right away.
Damian Priest is hurt.
[Cole] And Bad Bunny's got a kendo stick.
Right to the injured leg!
Priest flailing away at Bunny,
trying to keep him away from him.
[Corey] Damian Priest is hurting badly.
Uh-oh.
Priest tried to get the boot up. Bunny tried to--
Bunny made him pay!
Hyperextending the knee of Damian Priest.
[groaning] Oh, my God!
[Cole] Priest is screaming in pain.
[Corey] Priest said, "It's not okay." Damian Priest may be injured
[Cole] Well, I have to say many will believe Priest deserved that.
[Corey] Oh, wait a second. Dominik, Finn Bálor…
[Cole] the rest of The Judgment Day is here.
Remember, no disqualifications.
[Corey] The numbers game just overwhelming Benito.
Essentially three on one right now,
and I got a bad feeling Kendall Jenner is about to be back on the market.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Wait a second!
[Cole] Rey Mysterio!
[Corey] Rey trying to even the numbers.
Rey coming to Bad Bunny's aid,
but now Dominik, his son, and Finn Bálor beating him down!
["Bad Apple" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Can somebody say Caribbean Cool?
Carlito's here!
[crowd rallying]
Carlito taking out The Judgment Day!
[Corey] Backstabber!
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Now that, that's cool!
[Cole laughing]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Oh, of course.
[Corey] It's not the first time Dom's been in a fight over an apple.
That's the kind of stuff you deal with in the clink.
[Cole] Dominik in position.
Rey with a 619 to his son!
-[crowd exclaims] -[Cole laughing]
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] The match is still underway!
[Cole] Bálor and Dom retreating.
[Corey] Carlito and Rey Mysterio!
["Los Boricuas" playing]
[Cole] Now Judgment Day has nowhere to go!
Savio Vega!
Los Boricuas!
[Corey] Bálor having a laugh.
Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place.
[crowd chanting]
["Our World" playing]
[Corey] But wait, there's more!
[Cole] The Latino World Order!
Joaquin Wilde, Santos Escober, Cruz Del Toro.
[Cole] And The Judgment Day have nowhere to go!
And now the number's in the LWO's favor.
[Corey] This is absolute insanity.
Oh. Turn around, Finn.
[Cole] Oh, and a chop!
And another!
Down, Bálor!
Down goes Finn!
[Corey] Bálor feeling a little of that TNT here in Puerto Rico!
[Cole] And now Dominik getting him some!
And The Judgment Day running away!
Chair to the spine!
Bad Bunny unloading on Priest!
[crowd chanting]
[Cole] Has had as many hits with the chair as he has with his music career.
[Corey] I think the chair just went platinum.
[Cole] Bunny setting Priest up!
Oh, my goodness!
Bunny into the cover!
-Off the Bunny Destroyer! -[bell rings]
Bad Bunny with the win!
-["Chambea" playing] -[announcer] Here is your winner…
Bad Bunny!
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Well, Bad Bunny has added to his already massive résumé.
[Jackie] Still to come, Cody Rhodes learns you never turn your back on Brock Lesnar,
as we look back on the highly combative Trifecta
of matches between the American Nightmare and The Beast.
[Peter] But up next, it's your boys,
The New Day giving you the best Christmas gift,
their take on all things 2023.
[woman] WWE is proud to support our local communities
this season of giving.
This holiday season, WWE Superstars and employees
have provided more than 5,000 gifts
and donated more than 10,000 volunteer hours,
providing magical holiday experiences for boys and girls clubs of America,
Seacrest Studio Foundation, and Make-A-Wish.
Happy holidays from our family to yours.
[Peter] Welcome back to Raw, The Absolute Best of 2023
as we take a look at Christmas around the world.
From Rockefeller Center in New York City, all the way down under to Australia,
the home of next February's Elimination Chamber.
[Jackie] And let's jet on over to Europe to see Christmas in Paris
as WWE Backlash hits France in May,
and then one final stop to deck the halls in Germany,
the home of Bash in Berlin next August.
[Peter] WWE is truly a global brand
that will make its mark all over the world in 2024.
But here to give us their perspective on 2023, it's The New Day.
What's up, WWE Universe?
-It's your boys, The… -[both] New Day.
Now, the powers that be here in WWE
asked your 12-time
WWE World Tag Team Champions
to share our considerable thoughts, to impart our infinite wisdom,
to expound our immeasurable knowledge--
Woods, can you get to it?
-Yeah, just… -Fine.
-That's a lot of vocabulary, get to it. -Fine.
A topic near and dear to our beloved Big E's heart.
-Big meaty men slapping meat. -[laughs] Yeah.
And there's no better place to start than with big Bronson Reed.
330 pounds of man meat
that'll squish you flatter than a flapjack.
Love when Wade Barrett yells…
[Wade] Tsunami!
Perhaps the only man more meatier than Bronson on Raw these days
is the Viking terror, Ivar!
Ugh, may I never have to be in another Viking Rules Match
with that man ever again!
But, Kof, what's worse,
an Ivar moonsault
or getting punked out and sent down on your backside
by the CMA Award-winning, Grammy-nominated artist, Jelly Roll?
[laughs] Now that's what big meaty man slapping meat is all about.
The women's division on Raw has certainly started heating up.
Kayden and Katana looking like a force to be reckoned with.
And Tegan Nox certainly stepped up her game,
taking it to both Becky and Natalya.
But what about Zoey Stark?
Already earning her first one-on-one match for the Women's World Championship.
Okay, what about Raquel Rodriguez?
She got her first taste of main roster gold,
winning the Women's Tag Titles with Liv Morgan earlier this year
-before losing them to-- -No, no, no, stop, stop, stop.
Don't even say her name.
Don't let her name come out of your mouth.
Because I've been told by Adam Pearce himself
he's got something special for she who will not be named
-later tonight. -Ooh.
Well, the next topic, ain't that a kick in the head?
The three people you would least like to be kicked in the head by.
I'll start. Xia Li.
Ninja kicks are strictly for martial arts movies and video games.
Last thing I'm looking for in real life is a roundhouse
-to the back of the dome. -Valid point.
She kicks hard. But what about Sami Zayn?
Hell of a nice guy,
but, uh, mark me, uh, no for that Helluva Kick in the face.
But number one on the list.
Ever since Shinsuke went and got some subtitles,
he's been handing out Kinshasas to whoever he feels like.
So count me out with Shinsuke.
-Now, your boys, The… -[both] New Day…
…have got some serious competition these days.
I'm talking about The Judgment Day.
They're on top of the division right now,
but we all know that goth look is always just a phase.
Eventually, those championships will find themselves right here along these hips.
But we are both well aware it won't be easy.
Not in a division that's got two behemoths in Sanga and Veer
being led into battle by Jinder Mahal.
Yeah, I mean, you've got the newly reformed DIY
with Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa,
plus The Creed Brothers, who since their arrival have been
straight up Brutus Ballin.
Yeah, yeah. And while we absolutely cannot stand them,
you cannot overlook Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci of Imperium.
But… but… but… I… I feel… I feel… I feel like
-we're forgetting someone, right? -Hmm?
I mean, but who could it be?
[both] Who? Who? Who?
Oh, I think I've got one last title card for that.
Last but certainly not least,
Chad Gable, Otis, Maxxine Dupri,
The Alpha Academy
and their new protégé, Tozawa.
[Kofi] Oh, look at him dance, man.
No, no, no. Look away, look away.
-That's nasty! -Ugh!
Rosenberg, I may regret asking this, but you got moves like Tozawa or what?
-Yeah, actually, immediate regret. -I don't want to do it.
-Please don't. -I'm not.
All right, well, listen, it was a big year for Alpha Academy.
Not only did they add two new recruits in Akira Tozawa and Maxxine Dupri,
but Chad Gable, I mean, he arguably had the biggest match
of his entire career against the "The Ring General" Gunther.
Oh, absolutely. This was a moment in time for Chad Gable.
The Intercontinental Championship on the line,
his entire family at ringside,
Chad Gable ready to give it his all!
[Jackie] Yes!
-Thank you! -Only problem
was that pesky Ring General.
That's right, Gunther!
He's the man defending the Intercontinental Championship
and he wasn't ready to give it up.
In fact, he was trying to become the longest reigning
Intercontinental Champion of all time.
[Cole] Gunther defending the Championship against Chad Gable,
and he has been dominating as the champion, Gunther.
[Wade] Gunther standing on the verge of history!
[Cole] That may turn things around.
[Wade] Absolute game-changer, shredding the left knee of the champ!
[Cole] And great strategy by Gable.
He's got a break by five,
but you take out the leg, you take out the power,
you take the big man off his feet
and you change the complexion of this match.
[Wade] The past five minutes were one-way traffic
in the direction of Chad Gable.
[Cole] Oh, what a kick to the face!
Cover by Gunther.
Looking to retain and make history. And a kick out by Gable.
Watch this.
Boom! Just collapsing the face of Gable!
[Wade] Rearranging those facial features.
You really want the gold that badly, Chad Gable?
[Cole] And again, Gunther was injured.
Gable was building momentum,
and Gunther just shut Gable right down again,
But Gunther has had a lot taken out of that knee.
It will be interesting to see if that plays a part going forward.
[Cole] Now, Gunther punishing Gable.
[Wade] But look, this is once again a dominant performance
from Gunther like we saw two weeks ago.
But the durability, the hard-wearing nature of Gable
-is what frustrated Gunther last time… -[Cole] Oh!
[Wade] …and caused the big Austrian to make a mistake.
[Cole] Again, just listen to this.
-[smack] -[crowd exclaims]
-[Gunther grunts] -[Cable groaning]
[Wade] I'll tell you this. It's rare you see Gunther sweating…
[indistinct yelling]
[Wade] …it's rare you see Gunther breathe--
[yelling in German]
[Wade in English] …breathing heavily.
[Cole] And Gable, though.
Straps come down and Chad Gable still in the fight!
And now he's fired up and he's going right after the Intercontinental Champion!
Look at Gable go.
[Wade] That was the last thing that Gunther expected
-after the abuse thrown at Chad Gable! -[Cole] Oh!
Gunther didn't let it affect him. Look what he's doing.
He's just going to punish Gable even more.
[referee counting]
[Cole] Torturing Gable.
Gunther in control.
Can Gable somehow climb back into this championship match?
Ladies and gentlemen, it was 44 years ago
the Intercontinental Championship was established.
Pat Patterson, the first Champion.
Gunther, looking to become the most dominant of all time.
Chad Gable looking to stop a near-historic reign.
Welcome back to Monday Night Raw.
Gunther looking to put Gable away. Gable trying to stay in this fight.
[Wade] Everything Chad Gable throws at Gunther,
Gunther has an immediate answer for.
But this might be the moment.
[Cole] This could be a turning point now for Chad Gable.
Gunther over the top rope, hit the floor hard.
Gable has stayed in this match-up. He's been able to survive the early flurry
of Gunther, and now somehow trying to pull off a miracle here tonight
on Monday Night Raw.
And Gable with a German suplex outside the ring!
[Wade] Landing hard on the floor.
[Cole] Now the official's on a count of six here.
Gable does not want a count-out victory.
He needs to get the Champion in the ring in order to win the title.
Not like he did a couple of weeks ago.
A count of nine, Gable beats the count, back into the ring.
Gunther, though, meets him there. And down goes Gable!
Stacks him up. Is Gunther to retain-- And a kickout!
[Wade] The powers of recovery for Gunther
when he is on the ropes, when he is hurt are immense.
Watch the head of Chad Gable bounce off the mat here!
[Cole] But somehow Gable was able to kick out.
The Champion, Gunther, looking to make history tonight
as the longest-reigning champion ever.
Climbing to the top rope, Chad Gable,
hoping to win his first singles championship in his career,
meets Gunther there, critical moment in this match!
And what a chop by Gunther.
And now Gable!
Up to the top rope!
Superplex!
Gable's got a chance!
His family in the front row!
Headbutt splash! Cover by Gable for the win!
And a kick out by Gunther at two!
[Wade] Straight into the ankle lock, Cole!
[Cole] And now the Champion, center of the ring!
Submission move by Gable! Gunther nowhere to go!
[Wade] Champion in complete agony now, panic starting to register.
But no! Denied again.
[Cole] But again Gunther has been…
Favoring that leg all match-up.
Gable trying to roll through into the Chaos Theory,
blocked by Gunther.
And Gunther now! Gable lands on his feet.
And Gunther looking for-- Oh, nice back suplex by Gable.
And Gunther is in trouble.
[Wade] Chad Gable, in-ring machine.
[Cole] Did you see the look on the Champion's face moments ago?
Almost a panic in the eyes of Gunther.
And Gable ripping the straps down!
Send Gunther into the corner, rolls through into the Chaos Theory!
Bridge, cover, win!
No, two and a half!
[Wade] Wow! That was Chad Gable's best chance of winning this match-up,
and The Ring General says, "No, not tonight!"
[Cole] Let's watch this cover here, Wade.
The bridge cover. There's one, there's two, just before three!
So close for Gable.
[Wade] History beckons for Gunther. Opportunity is here for Chad Gable.
[Cole] Gable, moonsault. Caught the ankle.
Gunther tried to block, didn't help, Gable now, ankle lock!
Rolled through by Gunther, Gable still got it locked in.
Gunther with nowhere to. He's gotta tap!
Gunther's gotta tap! Gunther's gotta tap!
[Wade] Nowhere near the ropes!
[Cole] Trying to drag himself to the bottom rope to force a break!
Fingertips away!
Gable drags him back!
Gunther creates a separation.
And now into the sleeper.
Now the sleeper hold applied by the Champion.
[Wade] How quickly the table's just turned.
Such is the brilliance of "The Ring General" Gunther
[crowd rallying]
[Cole] The Gable chants thunderous here in Charlotte tonight.
[crowd chanting] Gable! Gable! Gable! Gable!
Gable trying to make it back to a vertical base.
Gunther on his back,
trying to break the sleeper.
But again Gable got the shoulders down,
and Gunther's got to release the sleeper!
[Wade] What a reversal from Gable, but straight back--
-Oh, no! -[Cole] Oh, my goodness!
Gable dropped right on the top of his head.
And just like that, powerbomb!
And a lariat clothesline!
-Gunther makes history. -[bell rings]
["Prepare To Fight" playing]
[announcer] Here is your winner,
and still
the Intercontinental Champion,
"The Ring General" Gunther!
[Jackie] Still to come, The Man comes around
looking for a little Stratusfaction
as the heated rivalry between generational icons, Becky Lynch
and Trish Stratus heads inside a steel cage.
[Peter] But up next, it's time to acknowledge your Tribal Chief,
Roman Reigns, and all he's accomplished on Raw.
The Absolute Best of 2023.
Welcome back to Raw, The Absolute Best of 2023,
and you certainly can't talk about The Absolute Best of 2023
without talking about Roman Reigns, right?
Ah, and those two words.
Two words, Jackie, perhaps the two most powerful words in all of WWE,
two words that let everybody know
you're not just in the presence of greatness.
I'm talking about you're in the presence of an all-time
Mount Rushmore level of WWE Superstar.
The two words I'm talking about…
Do it.
[deep voice] Acknowledge me.
That's pretty good.
It's a little Christian Bale, Batman, but I dig it.
-[normal] It's not bad, though. -I don't hate it.
All right, we are now over 1,200 days into the reign of The Tribal Chief,
if you can believe it.
And if Roman's advocate, Paul Heyman is to be believed,
what we've seen from the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion
in just 2023 is just a drop in the proverbial bucket.
Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Paul Heyman.
And in this holiday season of tradition and celebration,
let us all take a moment
to properly acknowledge Roman Reigns
in his 1,212th day
as the Undisputed WWE Universal Heavyweight Champion.
Following unmatched dominance across both 2021 and 2022,
it's now a three-peat for your Tribal Chief,
with yet another full calendar year standing alone
atop WWE
in 2023.
And looking back, what a monumental 365 days
the leader of The Bloodline has had.
Royally solving the KO problem.
Eliminating Montreal hometown hero.
Crushing the dream, Hollywood ending
to the story of the American Nightmare.
Outshining a self-proclaimed Megastar,
and showing the world who the real Crown Jewel is.
Engaging in Tribal Combat
against his miserable, rotten, ungrateful former right-hand man,
proving he, Roman Reigns, is the one, the only one,
that sits at the head of the table.
Everyone who stepped up to challenge Roman Reigns
and his bloodline fell in 2023,
including a 16-time World Champion
at the hands of the tribal heir,
Solo Sikoa.
And as Special Counsel to your Tribal Chief,
I offer not predictions but spoilers.
For the next 12 months,
there will be no challengers
unseating the true GOAT of sports entertainment.
And I don't care if you're Phenomenal
or a Legend Killer,
or someone who just can't stop saying
the word "Yeah."
But before I go, the Wiseman will bestow some wisdom upon you,
and I'd like to present each and every single one of you
this holiday season, an important reminder
that 2024 is a leap year,
which means the gift of one extra day
to acknowledge your reigning,
defending,
Undisputed WWE Universal Heavyweight Champion…
[whispering] Roman Reigns.
[Jackie] And be sure to join us this Friday on FOX
for SmackDown, The Absolute Best of 2023,
where we'll relive some of the blue brand's greatest moments
of 2023, including the epic WrestleMania main event
between Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes.
[Peter] And up next we'll be joined by American Nightmare.
That's right, the aforementioned Cody Rhodes,
as he looks back at the wars he's been through this past year,
and the next one that lies ahead of him.
Welcome back to the show, everybody.
You're watching Raw, The Absolute Best of 2023.
I'm Jackie Redmond, he is Peter Rosenberg.
Merry Christmas once again. Thanks for spending it with us.
And, Peter, the gifts just keep on coming.
I know you are a big fan of our next guest.
Have you ever been to a show? Everybody is a big fan of our next guest.
He's the winner of the 2023 Royal Rumble,
the first man to declare for the 2024 Royal Rumble,
coming this January to Tropicana Field in the greater Tampa-Saint Pete area.
Please welcome-- Oh, yeah.
Please welcome into the program the "American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes.
Cody, merry Christmas. How are you, bud?
Merry Christmas to both of you guys. Happy holidays.
You mentioned the 2024 Royal Rumble coming up,
I'm looking to go back-to-back, Peter.
-Back-to-back. -Whoo.
Whoo.
Wow. Only the greats go back-to-back. So I think you got it in you, Cody.
But I want to ask you about Christmas. You're taking time away from your family
to do this interview with us,
how into the festive spirit do you and the fam get around the holidays?
What's the sitch?
The sitch, it's Christmas pretty much all of November and all of December.
We're very into all the little things.
No procrastination.
We had our tree right after Thanksgiving Day.
Brandi has taken Liberty to see Santa, not once and not twice,
-but now three times. -[laughter]
And, uh, the magic is flowing.
It's big in our house.
Uh, Cody, uh, me and thousands of others will see you tomorrow at MSG
for the WWE Holiday Tour,
and it got me thinking about your dad.
What do you remember about Christmas as a kid
and how often was Dusty around on Christmas?
So it was explained to me early on in our household,
Christmas was not only the day that, you know,
Santa would come deliver gifts, but it was a huge show day.
And now with the Holiday Tour that WWE has, it's, kind of,
changed just slightly where it's the day after Christmas.
You mentioned Madison Square Garden, where we're going to be tomorrow.
The Mecca, can't beat it.
Wow, that is going to be so much fun. I can't-- I'm not going to be there.
-I'm so upset. -I know. Be jealous.
But, you know, let me-- I will be for anyone that's going.
I do want to ask you about Shinsuke Nakamura
because he had quite the gift for you a few weeks ago on Monday Night Raw
when he, you know, got in your face and spit in your face. Like, what--
Where are you at with Shinsuke right now?
Prior to all of this, I had the highest regard
for Shinsuke Nakamura,
but I think the respect is, uh,
been altered a bit considering how he's approached this.
And there truly is a fun psychological element to this all,
because I was terrified of The Great Muta as a kid,
I was terrified of the mist. But I felt the mist,
and he's felt the receipt or two from me at this point.
And I think if anything, the respect is still there,
but it's become a bit more personal than you'd like a match to be
around the holiday season.
But that's okay. If it's personal, it's personal,
and we'll be able to settle it for however long this goes on.
Well, this is not the first time, Cody,
that someone who you didn't realize you had a problem with
all of a sudden had a problem with you.
Um, let's go back to after WrestleMania,
when all of a sudden, you are in the middle of just
a place no one wants to be.
How did you feel about your unplanned trip to Suplex City,
and what did you learn from going through the trenches with Brock Lesnar this year?
I'd say what I learned from a trip to Suplex City
is I don't ever want to go back.
I enjoyed my time because I was able to do something that is surreal
in the fact that I was able to beat Brock Lesnar, not once, but twice,
and to be able to win that rubber match at SummerSlam in Ford Field.
But you said it, Peter, like,
I've had one thing in mind since I came back.
One thing, and everybody has something else in mind,
to be a bit of a curve ball, to be a little bit of a detour
on what I assumed would be a straight road.
Well, it's been quite a journey for you over the last year,
and this has been all about looking back
on some of the bigger moments of 2023 on Monday Night Raw.
Do you have, like, a favorite moment from the last year
that kind of stands out to you?
I've had a lot of unbelievable memories in this last year,
and winning the 2023 Royal Rumble,
as far as, professionally, amazing memory the Rumble was,
I'd say though, maybe an…
underappreciated gem, or maybe it was too appreciated,
but another top moment for me this year was
the post-match press conference
at Fastlane with "Main Event" Jey Uso.
-[gasps] -[reporter] Congratulations… [laughs]
Yeet.
I bet a bunch of y'all lost money
thinking Judgment Day was gonna win tonight though. Let's go.
-You feel me? You feel me? -[snickers]
You feel me? Like, for real.
-Do you feel him, sir? -[man] I do.
Uce and I might have had a libation or two on the bus.
Uhh!
[laughter]
My man, that's my man.
I love it because it was really unexpected.
I always try to be polished and ready and straightforward
when I do those press conferences,
but it was so much fun,
and I'm glad we got that press conference moment.
[laughing] Cody, thank you so much. Merry Christmas, man.
Merry Christmas to you guys. Thank you very much.
All right, and with that, there's only one thing left to do.
-What's that? -Let's take a look back
at Cody, Brock III from SummerSlam in Detroit.
[Cole] And look at this!
Do not turn your back. Cody Rhodes goes right after Brock Lesnar!
But Brock Lesnar says, "Not so fast."
"Welcome to Suplex City, kid."
[Corey] There's a quick reminder, Cody, that you are not dealing
with a human being.
[Cole] Cody though, hanging Brock Lesnar up on the top rope.
Cody Rhodes Pitbull-like mentality, the drop down right hand.
-Rhodes, off the second rope! -[Corey] Disaster Kick!
-Lesnar's staggered. -[Cole] Cody again!
Brock still on his feet after a second Disaster Kick,
and now a third one as Cody was picked out of the air
by The Beast.
And now Brock Lesnar
driving Rhodes into the corner.
[Brock grunting]
[Cole] And now, shoulders to the midsection,
looking to wear down the American Nightmare.
[yells]
[Cory] I know Cody's game plan for tonight was to attempt
to stick and move, stay out of the clutches of The Beast Incarnate.
Oh, and just like he sidestepped there.
[Cole] Lesnar goes shoulder first to the post.
And now, Lesnar hurting outside the ring.
Cody Rhodes is going to fly.
Suicide dive! Brock dropped in front of the announce table.
[Corey] You can see the fire, the passion
in the eyes of the American Nightmare
who has The Beast staggered.
[Cole] Brock Lesnar trying to get away as Cody Rhodes continues the attack.
And now the power of Lesnar, driving Cody spine first into the ring post.
[Corey] That just took all of the wind out of Cody's sails.
[Cole] It's just Brock's such a monster, Corey.
I mean, it takes so much out of you just to punish the man enough
to keep him down.
You think you've got him on the ropes, and suddenly, Brock is back on top again.
[Corey] Brock possesses the power to truly change the complexion
of any match-up with one maneuver,
one strike, one suplex.
That quick, Brock can change it all.
[Cole] He's a ten-time World Champion,
a former King of the Ring,
Money in the Bank winner, two-time Royal Rumble winner.
And this may be the most impressive--
-[Corey] Oh, my God! -[Cole] Look at the power of Lesnar!
[Corey] Total disregard for Cody's well-being.
[Cole] And now Brock Lesnar, I think he's done toying around.
I think he's done playing games.
He drags Cody outside the ring, and now Lesnar,
-an F-5! An F-5 on the floor! -[Corey] Oh, my God!
Tell him!
[Cole] Cody, if you know what's good for you,
stay down, take the count out.
[Cory] Look again at the thunderous F-5 delivered by Lesnar.
[Cole] And Cody stirring,
and I'm not sure what's going through Corey's damn pigheaded mind,
but he's back to his feet at a count of eight,
and now at nine, he beats the count. Back in the ring
and Brock Lesnar is pissed off about it.
[Corey] Cody Rhodes is not thinking rationally.
[Cole] Cody trying to drag himself to his feet.
The WWE fans beginning to stir.
Cody is back to his feet.
Lesnar's got blood in his eyes.
Cody's screaming at Brock, "Come on!"
And Rhodes has taken the fight to Lesnar, and here comes Cody.
But just like that Brock Lesnar quells another rally.
And now Brock Lesnar is angry.
Brock Lesnar is steaming mad!
[Corey] Oh, no, no, no. Oh, God! Oh, God!
[Cole] F-5 right through the table.
Damn it, Cody, just stay down!
Listen to this.
[crowd exclaiming]
[Cole] Stay down, Cody.
The guy's gonna destroy you. He's gonna end everything you wanted.
Everything you hoped for, he's gonna destroy for you right here tonight.
He can't even get to his feet!
-He just beats the count. -[Corey] Why Cody, why are you doing this?
[Cole] Cody Rhodes continues to be tortured,
he continues to be punished.
[crowd chanting] Cody, Cody, Cody!
[Cole] One can only imagine what type of savagery Brock Lesnar has left.
[Cody grunting]
[Cole] And Cody still fighting back.
Cody still trying to fight back.
[Corey] Well, Cody's body at this point almost lifeless.
It's like Lesnar's suplexing dead weight.
[Cole] It's time to worry now.
[grunting]
[Cole] Cody just somehow trying to survive, trying to hang on.
Cody rips off the protective padding to the turnbuckle
as he suffers another suplex at the hands of Lesnar.
-[Corey] Do you see-- -[Cole] Look, we gotta try
to get a close up of the chest if we can,
and the rib area of Cody Rhodes, it has been shredded.
It has been shredded by Brock Lesnar.
Cody, though, with steel steps in his hand.
Oh, goodness! Lesnar just kicked the steps right out of the hands of Rhodes!
[Corey] Careful, Cole.
Hoisting up Rhodes yet again.
[Cole] Oh! Lesnar driven shoulder first into the post!
Cody trying to rally a little bit, buy himself little bit of time here!
Now, the steps connect!
[Corey] Lesnar retreating for perhaps the first time in this match-up.
[Cole] Cody Rhodes showing a little bit of a momentum here!
Off the second rope, Disaster Kick!
[Corey] Brock Lesnar still on his feet.
[Cole] Cody Rhodes goes for a second-- Oh, the Cody Cutter!
Desperation Cody Cutter!
[Corey] Lesnar immediately up to a knee almost instinctively.
-From the top! -[Cole] Cody from the top rope
with Cody Cutter!
Cover, for the win!
And Lesnar at two.
[Corey] You have to imagine that did not do well for Cody's psyche.
As we look again, at the top rope!
Cody Cutter, a deep hook of Lesnar's leg,
but still not enough to keep The Beast down.
[Cole] I still can't believe Cody Rhodes is back on his feet.
That Cody Rhodes is back in this match.
Somehow surviving. May have Brock Lesnar on the ropes.
Went for Cross Rhodes, Brock caught him with the Kimura!
[Corey] That's it! it's over.
[Cole] The Kimura Lock that broke the arm of Cody Rhodes.
Lesnar with the Kimura in, Cody trying to survive!
Trying to hang on. Will he tap out?
[Corey] I think we know the answer. Cody Rhodes will not tap out,
but the official may want to think about getting in there and stopping it,
save Cody Rhodes from himself!
[Cole] Cody tried to drag himself to the bottom rope to force a break here!
Brock's got the Kimura locked in good.
Cody Rhodes, he's a fingertip away from the bottom rope
and force a break here!
[Corey] Look at the disgusting position of Cody's left arm.
Lesnar is going to snap it again!
[Cole] Cody screaming in agony.
Lesnar wraps the legs like a Boa constrictor
around the waist of Rhodes.
Cody trying to make it to the bottom rope.
Desperation, and he barely-- Oh, he gets there!
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] But the damage has been done.
The damage is done. A hush has fallen over the WWE Universe
here at Ford Field.
[crowd chanting] Cody, Cody, Cody!
[Cole] Cody Rhodes is somehow still in this match.
But how much does he have left?
Both men back to their feet.
Brock Lesnar hoisting Cody Rhodes up.
Cody was able to slip behind and out. Brock, into the exposed turnbuckle!
The exposed steel of the turnbuckle and now Cody going for Kimura.
Cody going Brock's own submission move.
The Kimura Lock, locked in on Lesnar!
[Corey] Rhodes has it cinched in deep.
Cranking with everything in his being!
[Cole] Will Brock tap to his own Kimura Lock?
Brock trying to somehow counter and power out.
Cody's got it locked in good!
[Brock groaning]
[Cole] Brock screaming in agony. Brock may tap.
Brock may tap out!
[screaming]
[Corey] Lesnar yelping like a wounded animal.
[Cole] Cody Rhodes with everything he has.
But Lesnar though, drilling Rhodes into the mat
to force the Kimura break.
[groans]
[Corey] Cody, even with a bad arm of his own, was able to inflict
substantial punishment on Brock Lesnar's arm.
Significant time spent in a Kimura Lock.
[Cole] What a match.
A battle of guts between Rhodes and Brock Lesnar.
Cody now, back to his feet.
Center of the ring. Lesnar picks him out of the air,
looking for the F-5.
Cody Rhodes able to counter into a Cross Rhodes.
Cody still has it hooked!
Number two!
Cody still has it hooked!
A third Cross Rhodes!
Cover!
[crowd counting]
-[Cole] Cody Rhodes does it! -[bell rings]
["Kingdom" playing]
[announcer] Here is your winner,
the "American Nightmare",
Cody Rhodes!
[Cole] Corey Graves, here tonight at SummerSlam in front of his mother
and 50,000 strong, Cody Rhodes has done something very few have done.
He's beat Brock Lesnar not just once,
but now twice in a matter of months.
[crowd vocalizing]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] And with this victory tonight,
Cody Rhodes…
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] …earned a measure of respect…
from the greatest combat sports athlete on the planet.
And with that nod, and with that handshake,
Cody Rhodes, the American Nightmare has arrived!
[Peter] Still to come tonight, it was the moment that shook WWE
down to its very foundation,
the return of CM Punk.
[Jackie] But up next, Becky Lynch joins us to share her thoughts
on her generational rivalry with Trish Stratus
and her upcoming match with Nia Jax.
[announcer] The NXT Women's Championship is ready to main event now.
The Man is back!
She is looking for the one title she has never held,
the NXT Women's Championship.
She's done it! "Big Time" Becks is now The Man in NXT.
Certainly a huge moment in the career of Becky Lynch
as she completed the triple crown of Women's Championships,
and joinin8g us now is none other than The Man herself, Becky Lynch.
Becky, merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas to you guys. I hope you're having a good one.
Well Becky, we were chatting with Seth earlier
and he was telling us all about how festive your household has gotten
with Roux now at the age of three.
How exciting has it been? And maybe more importantly,
who does the bulk of the Christmas work in your house?
I mean, wrapping presents, buying the gifts--
-I thought so. -[Peter] There it is. She's The Man.
[Jackie laughing] Yeah. It's true.
Yeah. I mean, he didn't try to take credit for that, did he?
No, he was a little-- He was very general.
[all laughing]
No. He's great. No, no, it's such teamwork.
Because I'm the buyer, I'm the shopper,
I'm the one that goes out and does everything,
but he is the put-together
and I'm constantly getting stuff, you know, that needs to be put together,
and then he's like, "Oh, God! Look at these instructions."
And he's got the instructions and I'm doing a million other things,
and he's still there with the instructions, building stuff.
And so he's so very good at that.
Um, Becky, let's talk about some things that you did
in the ring this year.
Let's look back at that NXT Women's Championship victory
that we just saw. What did it mean to go back to NXT and do that,
as well as the mission that you had to give opportunities to others?
I think that's what it was about more than anything,
because it's one of those things where you want to redeem yourself,
you know, from ten years previous,
from the person that people thought was never going to be a champion.
And then you go back and you're The Man
and you're winning championships and you win the NXT Championship,
and you're able to gratify your younger self.
But really, what it was about was seeing what the future holds
and going down there and giving other women a shot
so that people who we haven't seen get the opportunities,
got the opportunity to showcase what they have.
Ever since, you know, Tegan Nox has been on TV a lot.
We saw what Xia Li could do, Indi Hartwell.
And there were so many people that I wanted to step in the ring with
that I still didn't get the chance to, but, uh,
there's more time. There's always 2024.
You know, it's awesome to hear you talk about how important it is for you to give
opportunities to other people,
because your husband was just talking about the very same thing
when we chatted with him
about the World Heavyweight Championship as well.
But in the immediate future,
you've got Nia Jax at Raw, Day 1 next week.
This is sort of a rivalry that fans have been wanting to, kind of,
see get reignited for like, five, years.
Yeah. Yeah, it's been five years in the making.
Uh, now, finally, we're gonna step in the ring together,
and she's going to see that you just can't put me down.
I'm just going to keep getting back up again.
And that's what this is about. That was what breaking my face was about.
It wasn't just that I got a bloody nose and it looked cool,
because, yes, I looked cool, but I often look cool,
and, uh, but it was about what that symbolizes.
That you don't let anything keep you down.
You keep popping up again, and you fight like hell.
I got to ask you, another memorable part of 2023 for Becky Lynch
was you and Trish Stratus.
And that rivalry over the summer, which to me,
led to the match of the year, which we'll get to in a little bit,
in a steel cage.
Um, it was absolutely amazing.
But beyond Trish and all of the things that she said and did,
what would it mean to a young Becky Lynch
to know that you were going to have that sort of rivalry
with Trish Stratus?
Uh, you know, I think my head would explode, you know?
And I think if you look at the entire year like a young me who idolized Lita,
got to win the Tag Team Championship with Lita,
and then fight against one of the greatest of all time, Trish Stratus,
it would make my 15-year-old brain explode.
Becky, thank you so much for your time. We'll let you get back to the family,
the eggnog, the celebration.
We appreciate you. Congrats on a great year.
Merry Christmas, lads.
-[Jackie laughing] -All right, take care. And with that,
we got to go to this match, Jackie.
We certainly do, because it is one of epic proportions.
Becky Lynch, Trish Stratus,
inside a steel cage.
[Peter] Whoo.
[Cole] The Steel City out in force.
Over 14,000,
14,584 to be exact, sold out at the PPG Paints Arena.
And we've kicked things off with a Steel Cage Match
between Becky Lynch and Trish Stratus,
the culmination of what has been an incredible rivalry.
[groaning]
[Corey] The question still remains at this moment,
who will get the last laugh?
[Cole] Trish bounced off the stage and now it's Becky's turn.
Has this match gone the way you expected so far?
[Corey] Absolutely. A seesaw battle.
Neither woman able to maintain an advantage for very long.
These are two elite-level competitors,
a Hall of Famer and a future Hall of Famer.
And Lynch is just going wild!
[Cole] Becky taking over momentum in the match-up,
pounding Trish's face over a dozen times into the cage!
[Corey] A perfect night for Trish to bring that protective face apparatus
-she's been wearing recently. -[Cole] Indeed.
And now Becky, on a kick right into Stratus.
[Corey] Lynch now making the climb.
-A precarious position for both women. -[Cole] Oh!
[Corey] And the back of Trish's neck right against the cage.
[Cole] And Becky with her patented legdrop right across the back of the neck.
This could be it. Lynch, looking for the win,
hooks the leg, wraps the arm and Stratus at two and a half
with a shoulder up.
Oh, my God! Stratus is some 15 to 20ft in the air here.
Not from up there! Superplex!
[Corey] Kudos to both of these women.
But how in the hell are either able to move after the superplex
with Trish coming all the way from the top of the cage?
Becky's going for a climb!
[Cole] And now it's Becky's turn
to try to climb up over the top of the steel cage and win this match.
Trish Stratus, not quite down.
Trish trying to make a race for the door.
Becky up over the top. She realizes Stratus may beat her
to the punch so she's going to run, interfere it, and drag--
[Corey] Oh, wait a minute, Zoey Stark!
That's Zoey!
Trish Stratus's protégé, who's been a thorn in the side of Lynch for months!
Lynch got the best of that exchange, but a cage door to the face.
-Pull up by Stratus! -[Cole] For the win!
Stacked her up and a kick out at two!
Went for the chick kick, Becky ducked underneath.
Man-handle Slam!
Cover by Lynch!
-Zoey Stark breaking it up! -[Corey] And Zoey!
[Cole] Remember, no disqualification!
[Corey] This is all perfectly legal, Stark's participation.
Despite the fact that the steel cage is taking place because of Zoey
to prevent Zoey from getting involved.
[Cole] Yeah, but Becky back on her feet and she just slammed the cage door shut.
And now Becky going after Zoey Stark!
As Zoey floors Becky, Trish Stratus looking to escape.
Zoey Stark, the obstacle in the way! Man-handle Slam to Stark!
Lynch making a beeline for the top of the cage!
Again, preventing Trish from going over the top and now high above the ring!
Becky Lynch has Trish
where she wants her!
Man-handle Slam!
Damn it!
Becky Lynch, cover!
-With the win! What a match! -[bell rings]
["Celtic Invasion" playing]
[announcer] Here is your winner,
"The Man" Becky Lynch!
[Cole] That match is in the running for match of the year!
[Corey] The Man toppled the Hall of Famer inside the cage.
["Main Event Ish" playing]
[Jackie] When we return, it's about to get Ucey
as Jey Uso reflects on what's been the defining year of his career.
No, I really do appreciate that.
In fact, merry Christmas to you, too.
-Yeah. -[Chelsea] Adam.
-Let me call you right back. -[scoffs]
As if suffering the indignity of losing my Women's Tag Team Championship last week
wasn't enough, we have had almost three hours of highlights on Raw
that have not included moi.
What do you have to say for yourself?
Actually, I have to say I'm sorry,
and I'm glad that you're here because honestly, Chelsea,
I have a Christmas gift for you. I do, honestly. Yeah.
I commissioned the production team to create a video montage
entirely devoted to you and the amazing highlights
that you've had this year. so I'm excited you're here.
-Can I see it? -You can absolutely see it.
-In fact, it's playing right now. -[gasps]
[announcer] From Victoria, BC,
Chelsea Green!
[Chelsea] I am the star,
and you do not want to make me angry.
[crowd exclaiming]
[Cole] Oh, my goodness!
[squeals]
[Corey] Oh, no.
[Cole] Chelsea Green obliterated.
[Corey] Oh, my God!
[commentator] Mist to the eyes of Chelsea Green.
-[Saxton] Uh, Chelsea? -What?
Uh, are you okay?
No, I'm not okay.
[Cole] At number 20, Chelsea Green is here!
-Oh, wow she's gone! -[laughter]
[Cole] Chelsea Green, eliminated faster than anyone
in history in the Women's Rumble Match.
It's 9:03. You said you'd be open at nine, and I need my venti latte. Extra cold.
[indistinct yelling]
Did you just honk at me? Huh?
Do you know who I am?
Come here. Don't you dare!
Are you seriously making us defend our tag team titles tonight
against Kayden and Katana?
[gasps] Way to ruin Christmas, Peter.
[Cole] Looking to break things up, but she took out her own partner!
-[Wade] This is it, Cole! -[Cole] The After Party!
Cover!
New tag team champions!
[crying] No!
No!
Why?
I…
this is an outrage. And on Christmas, no less.
I'm going to be speaking to management, you Grinch! [scoffs]
-Merry Christmas. -[knocking at door]
Dawg, I don't know what she complainin' about.
That was even better than It's a Wonderful Life.
You're right. Merry Christmas, Truth.
-Merry Christmas, my dawg. -[laughs]
How great is it having R-Truth back on Monday nights?
Oh, so good. I tell you what, the energy is just different with R-Truth
in the building, and even better seeing the lady Scrooge, Chelsea Green,
you know, get everything she had coming to her this Christmas.
Absolutely agreed. Well, joining us now is a Superstar
who's really taking his game to another level this year.
-Jey Uso, thank you for joining us. -Yeet.
Yeet, what it do, Uce?
What it doing, man? It's obviously been a crazy year for you.
You leave The Bloodline, you come to Raw.
First thing I have to ask, how has Christmas been so far for Jey Uso?
How's Christmas been this year? I mean,
it ain't been the same like every other year, Uce.
You know what I'm saying?
I mean, a family feud going on, you know what I'm saying?
Thanksgiving was a little weird. I don't know how Christmas is going to be,
but we gon get there.
Well, listen, I kind of think the holidays, family dysfunction,
they go hand-in-hand, right?
But, Jey, you know, to me, one of the most memorable moments of the year
was you saying "deuces, Uces" and leaving everything.
Your family, the WWE.
So my question is, what was it that Cody Rhodes said
to convince you to come back as a member of the Raw roster?
Dueces, Uces!
I mean, just, uh, new start, right?
Everybody seen how The Bloodline story was playing every single week.
I was, you know, just fighting my family, fighting my brothers,
fighting my cousins every single week,
and it just got to me.
So I had to dip off, man, you know, deuces to the Uces.
And then I got a call from Cody Rhodes, right.
I was a little hesitant to come back, but, you know, he convinced me, man.
Uh, Cody Rhodes is a Day 1 too.
Knowing him over, maybe, 15 years. I mean, I trust Cody.
If it wasn't for him, I probably would have still been chilling
somewhere on the island. Somewhere, you know?
Uh, now, Jey, obviously some people in the Raw locker room
are less than receptive to you joining the red brand.
You've already spoke about Cody,
tell me the part that Sami played in helping you transition to Raw.
Oh, Sami Zayn made it real easy to transition to Raw, Uce.
Uh, I mean, that's my dawg too, you know.
Everyone knows I did not like him. Like, I really didn't like Sami.
But, man, it's really a love-hate relationship, man.
Now, like, I'm calling, I'm the one texting him all the time.
I'm like, "Hey, man, where are we going to eat, Uce?"
"Where are we going to get coffee, bro?"
Because I know he love coffee. He just got me on some coffee, you know?
Uh, so I wouldn't see myself here if my dawg wasn't around, man.
A caffeinated Jey Uso, thanks to Sami Zayn.
But, you know, I think the WWE Universe really saw your bond come to life
when you guys embraced this year. The hug felt around the WWE Universe.
But Jey, last question. You're creating your own legacy now,
you're on your own, so what lies ahead for you in 2024?
Man, what lies ahead for Jey Uso in 2024?
[short sigh]
I mean, I'm reaching for the stars right here.
Uh, obviously gotta handle this Drew McIntyre problem, right?
Have some unfinished business with my brothers, with The Bloodline.
And I just want to just be me, Uce.
You know, y'all been with me through my whole career,
and 2024 is, you know, I'm just knocking at the door, you know?
But I just want to be "Main Event" Jey Uso,
have a good year, you know, and I'm excited.
Well, I'll tell you what, the roller coaster ride that is
a solo Jey Uso has been fun so far.
We wish you all the best in 2024. Thank you for this.
Yeet.
-[Peter chuckling] -Thank you guys, Uce. Yeet.
-[Peter] Yeet, Yeet. -[Jackie] Yeet.
No, I feel you.
I like it, I like it. Well, coming up next here on Raw, The Absolute Best of 2023,
we're going to relive one of the highlights of Jey Uso's year
as he teamed up with Seth '"Freakin"' Rollins,
Cody Rhodes, Sami Zayn and a returning Randy Orton
to take on Drew McIntyre and the Judgment Day at WarGames.
[Corey] Darkness has descended over Monday Night Raw.
The Judgment Day is here!
[Damian Priest] All rise and show the proper respect
to The Judgment Day!
[Finn] The Judgment Day isn't afraid of anyone.
[Rhea Ripley] We run Monday Night Raw,
and for anyone who doesn't wanna fall in line,
we've got no problem putting them on the shelf.
[Dominik] I'm not afraid of anyone in the world.
[Cole] This kid is a low life.
[Dominik] Show some respect to my Latino Heat!
[Corey] JD McDonagh, the tenacious Irish Ace.
[Wade] As vicious as they come.
[Corey] Señor Money in the Bank.
[Cole] Damian Priest.
[Finn] And all rise for the two-time Tag Team Champions!
[Cole] Judgment Day is upon us!
[Rhea Ripley] I am the most dominant Champion in the WWE.
[Corey] The Eradicator has provided unmatched dominance.
[Damian Priest] The future of this business will be decided
by The Judgment Day.
[Rhea Ripley] We've taken care of every Superstar that is stood in our way.
[Damian Priest] Nobody can stop The Judgment Day!
Great teams, okay.
The Kansas City Chiefs, the Golden State Warriors,
they've been running things for the last decade.
And you know who's been running things in WWE for over a year?
The Judgment Day.
You're right. There is one difference, though,
between The Judgment Day and those two teams.
-Mami? -I mean, well, yes, of course,
but also we like Travis Kelce and the Chiefs.
We like the Golden State Warriors. They're likable people.
Nobody likes The Judgment Day. They're mean,
and honestly, kind, of rude.
Yeah, and they've created some enemies along the way.
Understandably so.
I mean, you got Jey, Cody, Sami, Seth who all don't like Judgment Day.
And then Randy Orton shows up and joins their team.
Yeah, apparently, even Randy was ready to not like The Judgment Day.
And you got to love WarGames when it comes to settling a score.
Ten men, two rings, one cage,
and anarchy absolutely reigned supreme.
Two men start while their teammates are caged at the top of the ramp.
Then, one by one, more competitors enter the fray.
And only once everyone has entered, do the WarGames really begin.
And I'll say this, there's one man I never want to see
coming out of a cage headed directly for me.
Who?
Drew McIntyre.
[Corey] Judgment Day is about to take the advantage again.
Uh-oh.
[Cole] And here comes McIntyre.
Drew McIntyre, who said, and this is a quote,
he was put through major trauma after what The Bloodline did to him
at Clash at the Castle a year ago
in, uh, Cardiff, Wales.
[Corey] Listen, I appreciate Drew's reasoning.
I understand why McIntyre feels the way that he does
and no one's going to change his mind.
[Cole] McIntyre picking Rollins out of the air.
And now driving Sami Zayn into the corner.
-[Corey] Wow! -[Cole] Drew McIntyre signed up
for this match for one reason,
to get inside a cage that Jey Uso was locked in.
[Corey] So what Drew's about to do to Rollins is basically a bonus.
-[Cole] Oh, this isn't going to be pretty! -[crowd exclaims]
And now, McIntyre stalking his prey.
A damaged Jey Uso.
Wounded.
Ripe for the picking!
[Corey] Drew is savoring every step he takes.
[crowd chanting] Yeet, yeet, yeet!
[Cole] And Jey Uso, not gonna back down.
Gonna fight toe to toe with Drew McIntyre.
McIntyre, though, went for the Future Shock,
Jey Uso with a kick to the midsection.
And a big right hand!
Oh!
McIntyre, off the neckbreaker into the kip-up.
It's going to be a long minute 30, for Jey Uso and company.
Uso, driven into the steel.
Acknowledge what the hell you did!
[Corey] Drew imploring Jey to acknowledge what he did.
[Cole] McIntyre, telling me earlier today that he's ticked off
that Jey Uso never apologized to him.
I'm not sure Drew ever gave him the opportunity, but you get the point,
as Uso is driven off the steel.
[Corey] Jey ramrodded face first into the cage!
And now Bálor, putting work on Sami Zayn in the corner.
[grunting]
[Cole] Meanwhile, in the background there,
Jey Uso's trying to make it to his feet.
McIntyre was in position for the the Claymore, and he still is.
Went for the Claymore and he ran into a big kick by Jey!
And now Jey and Sami, 1D!
Pulling a page out of The Usos' playbook.
[crowd counting down]
[Cole] Ladies and gentlemen, on July 4th, 1987,
at the Omni in Atlanta,
this man's father, Dusty Rhodes invented WarGames.
He never lost that match.
And for the first time in his career,
the American Nightmare joins a WarGames Match,
the match that his father invented.
Cody also invented a big event in this city as well,
as Cody delivers a big right hand to Damian Priest!
[Corey] Magnitude of the moment not lost on the American Nightmare.
Priest being bounced back and forth by Cody Rhodes!
[Cole] And Cody Rhodes now, with the right hand at JD McDonagh.
The man who brought Jey Uso back into the fray here in WWE.
And Cody with a big clothesline.
[crowd cheering]
And now Rhodes up over the top.
Cody, big back body drop.
[Corey] Cody utilizing Finn Bálor as a weapon against McDonagh.
[crowd chanting] Cody! Cody! Cody!
[Cole] And now Cody Rhodes
-with a bull rope in hand! -[Corey] Wow!
[Cole] Paying homage to his father, The American Dream.
And look who's grabbing the other end of the bull rope.
One night, right?
One night!
It's not for you! One night!
Come on!
One night!
[Cole] Shades of Hell in a Cell but tonight they're working together!
-[Bálor groans] -[Corey laughs]
Bálor's got a fever.
-[Cole] Oh! -[crowd exclaims]
[Cole] Finn's voice went up about eight octaves.
-Is he coming tonight? -I don't know.
[yelling] You don't know? You don't know?
-We got 'em. -Is he coming?
[grunting]
[Cole] The power of McIntyre and Priest!
Go up. Go up!
[Corey] Priest calling the shots from mid-ring,
ordering Bálor and McDonagh and Mysterio to the top rope
[Cole] and JD McDonagh with a moonsault to Sami Zayn!
-[Corey] Coup de Grâce! -[Cole] Coup de Grâce and the frog splash!
Judgment Day having their way!
[Corey] Dominik and McDonagh positioning a table near the corner.
God only knows what comes next.
Look at Priest muscling up Rollins.
[Cole] Oh, looking for the Razor's Edge.
Through the table goes Rollins!
Well, in 10 seconds,
Randy Orton's supposed to be out here.
The problem is The Viper is nowhere to be found.
[crowd counting down]
[Cole] Seth Rollins and company…
-["Demon In Your Dreams" playing] -[Cole] …have no backup.
-Wait a minute. Rhea Ripley. -Oh, my God, Cole
-Ripley's got the contract… -[Corey] Oh, my God.
[Cole] …and a referee in tow1
[Corey] Oh, my God. Ripley's got the briefcase.
[Cole] Rollins just went through the table! Rollins went through the table!
Damian Priest is going to cash in! Priest is going to cash in!
Not in WarGames!
["Voices" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] The WWE's--
[announcer] And now,
let the WarGames begin!
[Cole] Match is underway! Powerslam!
The WWE's Apex Predator is here!
For the first time in a year and a half!
Coming off double fusion back surgery.
Randy Orton is back.
[Corey] Look at the shape of The Viper. He's a monster!
[crowd chanting] Randy! Randy! Randy! Randy!
[Cole] Randy Orton!
It's been a long time!
[yelling]
Vintage Randy Orton!
[Corey] Better late than never, right?
[Cole] This place is delirious!
I'm delirious!
McIntyre and Orton!
Ambulance Matches.
Hell in a Cells.
Trading titles.
An old rivalry renewed!
McIntyre telling Orton things have changed around here.
And here we go!
[Corey] Two alphas in a territorial showdown, but Priest,
stopping Orton's progression.
And now, Randy Orton dumped in the corner
and The Judgment Day on the attack.
[Cole] Looking to spoil Randy Orton's return to WWE.
And now, Rollins and Cody and Zayn and Uso,
and we're five-on-five.
Our match is underway.
First team to gain pinfall or submission wins.
[Corey] Bodies being cleared from one ring to the next.
Several trapped on that steel diamond plate,
the most dangerous part of the ring.
[Cole] And let's remind everyone, Cory, that the cash-in never happened,
because Randy Orton thwarted the attempted cash-in by Damian Priest.
He still has the contract and never was official.
[Corey] I'd say once WarGames is over, Rollins owes Randy a few drinks.
[Cole] Paying homage to The Viper!
Vintage WarGames!
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Uh-oh, uh-oh!
Randy Orton looking at Jey Uso.
Uso and his brother put Randy out of action for a year and a half.
Randy has not forgotten and Jey Uso realizes.
You and your boys, you did that.
I'm sorry, Uce.
[Cole] Oh, but Jey Uso intercepting Priest
who wanted to take out Orton!
RKO!
[Corey] Rollins has Stomped Priest on the diamond plate!
Cody Cutter!
Helluva Kick!
Uso Splash!
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Mr. McDonagh, welcome to no man's land.
[Cole] And McDonagh tried to escape, heading up to the top of the cage.
Remember if he escapes, they're going to forfeit.
JD McDonagh is way up there.
Sami Zayn and Rollins going after him.
JD McDonagh may be wondering, "Why did I join The Judgment Day?"
This is not where you want to have a fist fight, 20ft above the ground
with a World Heavyweight Champion
and Sami Zayn teeing off on you.
[Cole] McDonagh has been pummeled!
Randy Orton is in position!
RKO!
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] The Viper is back.
[Cole] Cody Rhodes remembering his legacy as he high-fives Randy,
and Randy saying, "Here, Cody,
you take it, you put him away with Cross Rhodes."
-Cover! -[crowd counting]
-[Cole] Orton and company win! -[bell rings]
["Kingdom" playing]
[announcer] Here are your winners,
Sami Zayn, Randy Orton,
"Main Event" Jey Uso,
The World Heavyweight Champion, Seth "Freakin" Rollins,
and the "American Nightmare"
Cody Rhodes!
[Corey] What a battle!
[crowd vocalizing]
[Cole] What a match!
[Corey] What a return for Randy Orton.
You want a show of unity by these five Superstars.
[Cole] Welcome back
to the 14-time World Champion.
["Cult Of Personality" playing]
[crowd cheering]
Oh, my God!
-[bleep] -Oh, my God!
[both yelling]
[Cole] CM Punk is here!
[crowd cheering]
[girl] It actually happened!
[boy] No way!
[Cole] CM Punk!
[man yelling]
[woman] CM Punk is back!
[crowd chanting] CM Punk, CM Punk, CM Punk!
Looks like hell froze over.
[cheers and applause]
I've been trying to come up with the words to explain to all of you
exactly how I feel.
I've changed.
And this is the truth.
I'm home.
This is where I belong.
Over ten years, you people never forgot me
even when, maybe, I wanted to forget me.
And that's why I'm back. Because I love you guys.
Everybody has welcomed me back with open arms.
Well, almost everybody.
Some people are afraid.
They're afraid of what they don't understand.
But I understand.
The competition here, week in and week out,
competes to be the best in the world,
but The Best in the World has not been here
for almost ten years.
Some people are gonna have to come to terms
with the fact that their best efforts at being the best in the world
on this microphone, in this ring, even at commentary, isn't just false,
but it's a lie.
Because The Best in the World is back
and The Best in the World is standing live and in living color,
and his name is…
[crowd yells] CM Punk!
[crowd chanting] CM Punk! CM Punk! CM Punk! CM Punk!
CM Punk, bringing a seismic shift to the landscape of WWE,
and now as a full-fledged Raw Superstar, Jackie,
imagine the possibilities of who The Best in the World
could find himself face to face with in that ring.
This could keep me up all night.
I think it could keep a lot of people up all night,
just making a list of dream match after dream match.
How about next week, though, on Monday Night Raw?
Kicking off WWE New Year's Knockout Week with Day 1,
and it's going to be headlined
by a colossal World Heavyweight Championship Match.
[Peter] Colossal, as big as it is, it may be an understatement, okay?
For seven months, Seth Rollins has been a steadfast fighting Champion.
But this remorseless, dangerous Drew McIntyre,
this may be the match for Seth Rollins.
[Jackie] How about the women's division?
also taking center stage next week as a bitter five-year-old rivalry
between Becky Lynch and Nia Jax finally comes to a head inside the ring.
Plus, the Women's World Championship is on the line
as Rhea Ripley defends against the upstart, Ivy Nile.
It's all happening on Day 1, part of WWE New Year's Knockout Week,
which also includes NXT's New Year's Evil and SmackDown's New Year's Revolution.
[Peter] WWE really getting the New Year started off with a bang
as we begin the march towards the Royal Rumble.
I am so freaking excited for the Royal Rumble.
It is, maybe, my favorite event.
-Could be. -…of the entire year.
-Could be. -…in WWE.
I could talk about it all night, but I won't, because we are out of time,
and unfortunately, we do have to bid you a fond farewell
on this Christmas evening.
Thank you so much for joining us to relive The Absolute Best of 2023,
and we'll see you next week for Day 1.
Oh, and if you're in New York, I'll see you tomorrow night
at Madison Square Garden.
You're going to MSG? I am… I'm legitimately jealous.
Scored some tickets.
It's gonna be amazing. Cannot wait. Merry Christmas, everyone.
Merry Christmas. Thanks for watching. rry Christmas, everyone.